New, Creative & Unique.
With popular culture’s lens hyper fixed on African music, art, fashion and culture, it is time more than ever to celebrate the new generation of African stars. Young Ghanaian talents are beginning to make waves worldwide across the landscape of music, media and culture so we at iMullar will be profiling four emerging acts every month from fresh talent jumping into the music scene to the very best of rising hitmakers. New Music and quality content have become a much-needed escape from our current crazy reality, so enjoy the second edition of iMullar’s RATED picks for the acts to watch out for:
On this month’s edition of emerging acts, we’re kicking back with an impressive roster of upcomers. The list includes Ghanaian born soul singer BiQo, Tolu DaDi an Afro-Fusion artiste from Nigeria, Afro-pop/RnB singer Camidoh, and J Derobie, Ghana’s new rapidly rising dancehall talent.
BiQo
First up is BiQo, an Afro-soul singer who does not limit himself to any one genre, letting the quality of his music and heart-tugging vocals speak for him. The singer has shown himself to be a versatile artiste having shared stages with soul legends such as Kojo Antwi, collaborated with acts like Ghanaian emerging rapper Sizz the Truth and had his songs used as soundtracks in “The Perfect Picture”. His latest single ‘Mafe Wo’ is a smooth Twi ballad marrying highlife influences with luxurious saxophone notes giving us BiQo’s modern twist on a classic jazz love song. Ironically, BiQo is a member of the upcoming eclectic creative collective known as SuperJazzClub also known for their smooth Afrocentric lo-fi music. If you’re looking to slow down your ‘demon time’ playlist or for some classic vocals, sure to give you a few eargasms, BiQo is definitely an artiste to add to your library.
Need/Want to know more? Listen to BiQo here
Tolu DaDi
Tolu DaDi is an Afro-Fusion artiste focused on capturing life and all its changes, stages with his music. His energetic storytelling is influenced by his Yoruba background and his musical influences like Fela, Kwam1 and Asa. His lyricism + high energy and percussion-heavy Afrobeats makes ToluDa Di’s music thoroughly enjoyable and a great addition to your pregame, party and afterparty playlists. The artiste recently released FAYA, a fast tempo afrobeat song featuring last months emerging artistes Gyakie and Joojo Addison each respectively throwing down a dope verse to complement the jam’s high energy. Tolu Da Di just released an 11 track project aptly named ‘Stimuli’ in his own words, the artist’s latest contribution towards the pursuit of wanting more for his fellow African people and himself and stimulating our minds, bodies and spirit to do it. On ‘Fvcking Expensive’ the singer manages to serenade and get us moving about the price of chasing our dreams and the struggle to keep faith in the grind. Uplifting, melodic and vulnerable, Tolu DaDi takes us on a memorable ride through life’s ups and downs on his new tape.
Give yourself a reason to jam today, listen to more Tolu Dadi here
Camidoh
Some of us may know who Camidoh from his hit song ‘The Best’ ft KelyvnBoy. For those of us who do not, (shame on you) Camidoh is an upcoming Afropop artiste sensation bringing back old school RnB crooning seasoned with afrobeat and pop rhythms. His passion for music was firstly influenced by his childhood hero Senegalese American singer Akon and since then the singer has developed his passion into his own unique sound. On tracks like Yawa, the young Ghanaian artiste manages to show off his delicate vocals whilst making his romantic wahala so melodic that we can’t help but move to his cries for his lover to call him a baby. Camidoh has collaborated with big names like Medikal, DJ and producer Juls and Darkovibes, putting him on track to be one to watch in 2020. His latest project, an EP called ‘Contingency Plan’ is a journey of romantic ballads on a selection of mid to slow tempo afro RnB beats. The track titled ‘Find Me’ off the tape was actually inspired by how the singer and the world around him has been affected by the COVID-19 slowdown. The song is beautifully structured with an infectious hook/chorus by Camidoh who lays out his soul for his fans reassuring the world to not stop and keep going till they find him. We could all use that kind of encouragement and it helps that Camidoh is serenading us whilst sharing this message.
Fallen in love with Camidoh? Listen to him here
J.Derobie
J.Derobie needs no introduction, the young talent first splashed onto mainstream music radar after entering the #Empawa competition in 2019, a creative development initiative for young African musicians led Mr Eazi. Since then the star has released hit song after hit song. On ‘Poverty’, The Nunga native shared his determination to make it big against all odds. ‘Inna my life, me nuh waan fall fi no fall, Me nuh waan dull fi no dull Just a waan live up me life higher heights’ The infectious chorus over a catchy dancehall beat attracted the attention of Popcaan earning the song a remix feature from the Jamaican dancehall legend. A powerful co-sign for the rising star, J. Derobie is Ghana’s newest export amongst homegrown stars like Stonebwoy and Shatta Wale that are re-defining the afro-dancehall genre at home and abroad. Earlier this month, J Derobie released his debut EP titled ‘Nunuga Diaries’ dedicated to the community that raised him. The tape is a medley of the star’s raw lyrics, messages of endurance and love alongside some slow to mid-tempo songs lighter flicking tunes. So far ‘Woyooi’ which sounds like a celebration cry and ‘Fake Friend’, the artist’s anthem contribution to the #NoNewFriends gang stand out as favourites for us. Whether we are listening to J. Derobie celebrating his wins or questioning the intentions of potential leeches around him, we can’t stop bopping our heads.
To join the wave, click here to listen to more J. Derobie
Get your support juices following for these artistes, watch their live takeovers on Instagram weekly and also, follow the buildup to the next RATED edition on our Instagram platform.